Keeping crime and drugs away from neighborhoods is a mission everyone — from business leaders, to educators, to parents — has a stake in.

That's the message driving National Night Out celebrations in Binghamton and surrounding communities, the Rev. Henry Ausby of Hands of Hope Ministries in Binghamton said Tuesday as local leaders and police officials announced events planned for next week.

National Night Out will be held Tuesday in Binghamton, Vestal and Endicott, as well as other communities nationwide. The event is part of a program designed to boost awareness of crime and drug prevention.

"The magnitude of these problems requires that all of us work together," Ausby said.

In 1984, the annual event was created by the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit as a way to promote community residents getting involved in crime prevention activities. This year marks 19 years that Binghamton has participated in the event.

Night Out events include block parties, cookouts, visits and demonstrations by local leaders and law enforcement.

The events act as a meet-and-greet of sorts between residents and law enforcement and other emergency responders. They help strengthen those relationships and send a message that communities won't tolerate crime, organizers said Tuesday.

In Binghamton, events will be held at Saratoga Apartments, Carlisle Apartments, Columbus Park, Fairview Park, Cheri Lindsey Park, the Broome County Library and Boys and Girls Club.

In Vestal, festivities will take place in the Parkway Plaza parking lot across from Target. Endicott's Night Out will be held on the village municipal grounds.

Recent criminal investigations have been more effective because the residents have become more willing to contact police if they suspect a problem, Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said Tuesday.

That could be a sign that events such as National Night Out are making a difference, Zikuski said.

"Cops are people, just like everybody else — we're all in this together," he said.

Ausby said the Binghamton community is still reeling from the July 4 fatal shooting of 19-year-old Scott Wright Jr. at Town & Country Apartments on Roberts Street. Andre Lee, 21, of Binghamton, has been charged with murder in the shooting.

"This should be shocking, but unfortunately, it's not shocking anymore," Ausby said. "National Night Out represents the kindness, the spirit ... necessary to make our community safer to live in."

National Night Out in Binghamton

• Saratoga Apartments: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday

• Carlisle Apartments: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Columbus Park: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Fairview Park: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Cheri Lindsey Park: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Broome County Library: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Boys and Girls Club: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Other celebrations

National Night Out events will also be held from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Parkway Plaza parking lot across from Target and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Endicott's municipal grounds.